Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 23605, Samuel Draper, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Wraper, Samuel
NUMBER _____
S 2 3 6 0 5
CONTENTS

New York N o . 24,495
Samuel Draper
of Onondaga Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Woodbridge in the Mass. Troops. time for 11 months & 13 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 38 Dollars 9 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 o day of April 1834 and sent to Hon. M. Taylor U. S.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 114.27 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sep. " 19.04 $133.31
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown
Clerk
Book E.
Vol. 4
Page 97
Died Oct 6, 1835

State of New York Onondaga County 3p
Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832
On this 22 nd day of October 1833, personally appeared [at his own house in the Town of Pompey in said County, being unable to attend in open Court on account of bodily infirmity] before me George Pettit a Judge of the County Courts in and for said County. Samuel Draper a resident of Pompey aforesaid, aged Seventy one years the 19 th day of last May, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath depose & make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 - That he entered the service of the of the United States under the following named Officers and served as here in stated - That he enlisted the first of July 1779 into a Company commanded by a Captain Woodbridge, according to deponent's best recollec- tion but is not positive as to the name of the Captain, nor can he remember the names of the subaltern Officers. That he then resided in Brim- field, Hampshire County and State of Massachu- setts & enlisted for the term of six months, and the Company, being militia, mustered & render- -vansed at Providence in Rhode Island where we joined a Regiment commanded by Officers whose names deponent cannot now recollect, nor can he recollect any field Officer there, except a Col. Green who commanded a Colored Regi- ment, and General Greene who was there a part of the time. That he remained there till

The full six months Expired in January 1780, leaving six or eight days, that he & Solomon Thompson & Stephen Lord had were enlisted also from the same County by one Lieutenant Aaron Miles, of Brimfield & were all three examined & accepted by the Colonel, Woodbridge, at South Hadley where he resided, then returned home, & in a few days started for Prov- idence, & passed through Stockbridge, Killingsly and Thomson, & Brattlefield & other places - -
That in July following, 1780, before the 10 th day of the month, he was one of a number that Enlisted into a company of Continentals commanded by Lieut- enant Reuben Lilly in the absence of the Captain, Chapman then sick at Boston, for the term of six months, and was again mustered at South Hadley, by Colonel Woodbridge, returned home a few days, & then join- ed the company in Old Springfield, & were marched thence through Litchfield, Connecticut, Dutchess County in New York, to Westpoint, after a few days were marched to Galloway Hill, then crossed the north river at Kings ferry back again - marched to Totoway, & Hackensack in New Jersey and was present at the Execution of Major Andre and came back for Winter quarters to Westpoint where he was discharged by Col Nixon who commanded the Regiment, in the fore part of Jan- uary 1781 - That General Nixon brother to Col Ni- xon was also in Command - that during this last six months he recollects seeing General Washington at Galloway Hill, & General Putnam General Green General Glover Gen Patterson & Lord Sterling at va-

various other places - That he was born & brought up in Brimfield - was born the 19 th of May 1762 - that he has no record of his age, but is informed that there is a record of his age in the said town of Brimfield - that he lived in Brimfield when he entered the service - removed from there to Gran- ville in the State of New York - thence to Belcher- Town Massachusetts - from there to Westmore- land, Oneida County, New York - and from there to Powney where he now resides, & has resided forty one years last March - that he received a written discharge from Col Nixon for the last six months, but has lost it - That Elisha Litch- field, Benjamin Gault & Rensselaer Gault are persons to whom the declarant is known in his present neighborhood, who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a revolutionary soldier - That there is no Clergyman in his neighborhood who can testify to the same, the one who has been there for a number of years past, having removed away - The declarant further tes- tifies that his bodily infirmities are such, that he vividly believes it would be dangerous to attempt to go to Court, a distance of Eighteen miles which is the nearest Court, a greater distance than he has travelled for more than two years past - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declares that his income is not on the pen- sion roll of the agency of any State - that he has no means to documentary evidence, & that he knows of no person for certainty, whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services - Samuel Dyer Sworn to and subscribed the 3 rd day and year aforesaid before me George Pettit Judge of Onondaga County Court

We, Benjamin Coats & Rensselaer Coats & Elisha Fitchfield residing in Pompey in the County of Onondaga hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Drafer who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be sixtyone years old, that he is respected and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a reader of the resolution & that we concur in that opinion Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me } Benjamin Coats George Pettit Judge of Onon } Rensselaer Coats dega County Courts - - - } Elisha Fitchfield
And I the said Judge do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after put- ting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Depart- ment, that the above named applicant was a revolu- tionary soldier and served as he states - And the said Judge further certifies that Benjamin Coats Rensselaer Coats & Elisha Fitchfield, who have signed the pre- ceding certificate are all residents of the Town of Pompey, County of Onondaga, & from a person- al acquaintance with them all, he knows them to be credible persons, & that their statement is en- titled to Credit & full belief - & further, that he knows the fact, that the Clergyman, late & long a resident of the neighborhood & society of the above declarant, removed from the same last Spring & that said applicant, cannot, from bodily infirmity attend the Court. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Pompey in the County of Onondaga State of New York. This 22 nd day of October in the year 1833 George Pettit Judge of Onondaga County Courts
Samuel Drafer -

March 17, 1937
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/REI Am Samuel Draper-S.23605
Mrs. John E. Halverson 523 Rodondo Avenue Salt Lake City, Utah
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Samuel Draper, of Brimfield, Massachusetts, later of Pompey, New York.
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.23605, based upon the military service in that war of Samuel Draper.
Samuel Draper was born May 19, 1762, at Brimfield, Massachusetts. The names of his parents are not shown.
While residing in said Brimfield, Samuel Draper enlisted June 25, 1779, served as a private in Captain John L. Woodbridge's Company, Colonel Nathan Tyler's Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged December 31, 1779; he enlisted July 10, 1780, served in Captain Chamberlin's Massachusetts Company, which company because of the illness of said captain was commanded by Lieutenant Reuben Lilley, marched to New York, was present at the execution of Major Andre and was discharged at West Point, December 5, 1780.
Used State report for evidence it is assumed that this was the identical col.
After the Revolution, Samuel Draper moved from Brimfield, Massachusetts, to Granville, New York; thence to Belchertown, Massachusetts; thence to Westmoreland, Oneida County, New York; thence to Pompey, Onondaga County, New York.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 22, 1833, while residing in Pompey, New York, where he lived forty-one years.
He died October 6, 1835, place not shown. AB
There are no data as to soldier's family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension and the name and address of person paid in the case of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Samuel Draper(S.23605), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Samuel Draper Certificate No.24995 Issued April 2, 1834 Rate, $38.09 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 New York Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Brookline
23605 INVALID.
1937-Mar 17-That To Mrs John E. Halverson
File No. 23,605
Samuel Draper
His Rev Mrs
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 114
[Arrangement of 1870.]

30,053 Samuel Draper Declaration
George Pettit, Agent Herbicus. Onondaga County N.Y.
retr d printed Sheet
admd
11 mo 13 ds pri
Hon. Wm. Taylor

State of New York Onondaga County } ss. Clerk's Office
I, Reuben L. Hef Clerk of the said County and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do certify that George Pettit Esquire before whom the preceding affidavits purport to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Onondaga County Courts and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the jurats of the said affidavits and the above certificate or declaration to be his proper hand writing and genuine signatures — Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 10 th day of February 1834.
R. L. Hef Clerk

Department of War Pension Office March 15 1834
Sir,
I have the honor to return herewith the papers of Samuel Draper. By reference to note "e" on the third page of the accompanying printed sheet, you will perceive that it is necessary to make a statement more specific & detailed than he has done. It should also distinctly appear that due exertion had been made to obtain evidence, where it is most likely to be found. Full answers to the seven interrogatories, should be embodied in the supplemental declaration.
I have the honor, to be,
very respectfully,
Your obedt Servant
J. Edwards
Hon. Wm Taylor, House of Representatives,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, March 6 th 1834.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Samuel Draper, as a private, is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Joshua L Woodbridge's Company, in Col. Nathan Tyler's Regt. where he is allowed from June 25 th to Decem r 31 st , 1779. for services and travel, six Months and eleven days. — 6 = 11
Samuel Draper's name is borne on a Pay Roll of the Men that were raised by the Town of Brimfield, to serve in the Continental Army for six Months, where he is allowed from July 10 th to Decem r 23 rd , 1780, for services and travel, five Months & two days. 5 2 11 = 13 Edward D. Bamps by
Re d Sec. H. W. Taylor 15 Mar 1830

Adm d
Hon Mr. Taylor.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjunct notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.              
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops. 2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 3. Persons employed in the Naval Service. 4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of _____ &c.
 If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this                      day of                      &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (1) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Mrs John E. Halverson 523 Redondo Ave. Salt Lake City, Utah Mar. 1, 1937
Veterans Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Will you kindly send us what information you have of Samuel Draper of Brimfield, Massachusetts, Later of Pompey, Onondagua Co, New York.
Mr. Draper enlisted in the Revolutionary forces Dec. 1779 and was discharged at West Point, New York Dec. 5, 1780.
Mr. Draper was one of the founders of Pompey, New York. We would like the name of his wife and if possible his children. Thank you.
Yours truly,
no signature?
Mrs John E. Halverson